For your consideration is this unusual radio mid-1920′s receiver from an obscure manufacture… The Stafford Radio Co.. It appears to be a crystal receiver with one stage of audio. Tuning is accomplished by sliding the two metal plates over the two flat wound coils. The tube is an RCA Radiotron UX199 and the filament has continuity. Very little information is available on this company other than it had manufactured a few crystal receivers and a few components. In one of their ads, a “Key to the Air” permanent cartridge detector is listed guarantying clear and loud signals, especially during the summer, … One is on this radio. The company also manufactured “Key to the Air” fixed mica foil capacitors and claimed they were very accurate and the design reduced noise which was associated with other designs. Stafford was a principle, and is credited with a patent for an Indoor Helix Cage Antenna. No other patent was found under his name or the company name. This radio the “Key to the Air” was also described as a Neuflex receiver in their ad. On local strong stations they suggested that the receiver could be used, as a straight crystal receiver, without the tube or batteries and that the earphone be plugged into the separate jacks provided. The claim was also made that on local stations using the full radio, a loud speaker would produce audible sound. Tuning the radio was accomplished by sliding the right and left metal plates over the flat coils. It’s possible that Stafford used this information in the design of their radio. Also in their ad, they describe the finish as a Duco Green Crackle, durable and beautiful. The coils are green silk insulated and the flat panel is black Pyradiolin. There is a small chip in the right rear corner missing from this panel. The panel is attached to the cast metal base with pins. Perhaps someone in the past tried to pry the radio apart and broke off the corner piece which broke around the pin and then gave up. If you like unusual radios or if this radio appeals to your curiosity then don’t pass this by. Or of you collect New England radio manufactures then you may not even been aware of this “Key to the Air” Neuflex receiver… You may never see one again. The approximately dimensions are 5 1/2″ wide , 5″ deep and 1 1/2 tall without the tube. The item “RARE UNIQUE ANTIQUE VINTAGE 1920′S ONE TUBE CRYSTAL RADIO KEY TO THE AIR” is in sale since Thursday, July 23, 2015. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Radio, Phonograph, TV, Phone\Radios\Tube Radios\Pre-1930″. The seller is “autoprints” and is located in Manchester, New Hampshire. This item can be shipped to United States, to Canada.
